NJ Gubernatorial Race Results Should Arrive Sooner This Year: Here’s Why

New Jersey residents might learn who their new governor is earlier than usual this year, thanks to policies that expedite the vote count.

In 2022, Governor Phil Murphy signed a package of new ballot measures, one of which allows mail-in ballots to be counted up to five days ahead of Election Day.

The changes came after Murphy beat current Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli in 2021 in a race that wasn’t called until the day after the election. The late call was due to an influx of mail-in ballots, which was chalked up to the COVID-19 pandemic. These ballots weren’t counted until after the polls had closed.

Ciattarelli held a lead ahead of Murphy at the beginning of the 2021 Gubernatorial Election, but the abundance of mail-in ballots helped get the incumbent Democrat over the finish line.

"Across the nation, we continue to see one of our nation’s core principles come under attack as states restrict access to the ballot,” said Governor Murphy in 2022. “I am proud to sign legislation that will make democracy more accessible, more transparent, and stronger in our state. New Jersey will continue to move forward as we ensure that the democratic process is secure and protected.”

See below the package of bills Murphy signed into law in 2022:

• A-1969/S-138 - Allows minors to serve as election workers between 5:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on election days
• A-3817/S-2863 - Requires ballot privacy sleeves at polling place; makes various changes to early and mail-in voting procedures; creates online form to update name and residence on existing voter registration record
• A-3819/S-2868 - Specifies circumstances when voter will be removed from permanent vote by mail status and when ballot will be sent to primary address; requires educational campaign; makes appropriation of $5 million
• A-3820/S-2869 - Prohibits unaffiliated mail-in voters from receiving mail-in ballot for primary election; requires election officials to provide such voters certain notices; prohibits mail-in ballot envelopes from containing visible political affiliation or designation for certain elections
• A-3822/S-2865 - Changes certain mail-in ballot deadlines; permits opening and canvassing of mail-in ballots prior to election day; permits pickup schedule for certain mail-in ballots; requires confirmation notice when voter changes party affiliation at MVC
• A-3823/S-2867 - Requires enhanced review of death records two months prior to election; permits remote training for certain election workers; exempts election worker compensation from taxation and remuneration
• A-3929/S-2899 - Allows certain voters residing overseas to vote in certain elections in this State depending on overseas residency or intent to return

Bill A-3822, bolded above, moved the deadlines for voters to vote by mail ahead and allows election boards to count and record those ballots ahead of time.

While this will be the first gubernatorial race we see affected by these changes, we saw their effects this past June during the primary election.

The Associated Press called the six-candidate Democratic primary for Mikie Sherrill less than 40 minutes after the polls closed. AP declared Ciatarelli as a winner even earlier, at 8:17 p.m., in the five-candidate Republican primary he was favored to win.

Election Day is Tuesday. Check back with Patch this evening to see who will be The Garden State's next leader.